A conceptual model is a framework that is used to organize ideas and concepts. It is a tool that is used to help nurses to understand and explain phenomena in the nursing field. The purpose of a conceptual model is to aid in the development of nursing knowledge and practice.
Nursing models help us to understand the complexities of health care delivery and how nurses interact with patients, families, and other members of the health care team. They also help us to understand how nursing functions within society as a whole.
Nursing conceptual models can also be used to predict future outcomes or explain past events. For example, if you have a patient who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, you could use your nursing conceptual model to help explain why this person has developed breast cancer and what treatments might be best suited for her situation.
A nursing conceptual model consists of four domains: structure, process, function, and time (SFPT) (Bryant & Bryant, 2011). The SFPT model is an example of a general conceptual model that can be applied across multiple disciplines including nursing (Bryant & Bryant, 2011).
The model describes how nurses can use research to improve their practice, and it also describes how nurses can use technology to improve patient care.
